246 HOW TO STUDY BIRDS 



it, or to surpass someone else, will set one to read- 

 ing the bird-books eagerly to see how or where to 

 find this or that bird, and send one off on all sorts 

 of adventurous trips, to explore some mountain, for- 

 est tract, bog, or what not, and there will be a fine 

 spice of zest served with the simple lunch afield. 

 Though I am blessed with a normally healthy ap- 

 petite, I can truthfully say that I would not hesitate 

 for a moment between the best banquet that any ca- 

 terer could serve and a package in the pocket contain- 

 ing two sandwiches and a slice of cake or a few 

 cookies to be eaten on a bird-hunt with some quest 

 in view which inspired my enthusiasm. I would 

 choose the latter without a moment's delay. 



Any bird-lover can have the privilege of alliance 

 with the fraternity of those like-minded, not only in 

 one's own locality, but in very broad relations. 

 Every bird-lover in America would be welcomed in 

 the two great representative organizations, * The 

 American Ornithologists' Union " and " The Audu- 

 bon Society," and be stimulated by acquaintance, 

 either personally at meetings, by correspondence, or 

 through the published organs of these societies, with 

 the most active and successful workers. The beginner 

 should certainly subscribe for Bird-Lore, the popular 

 organ of the Audubon Society, and, if the interest in 

 birds does not abate, for The Auk, which is the lead- 

 ing scientific publication of America. The latter is 

 not unduly technical in character, but it gives the lat- 

 est discoveries and researches in.ornithology and is ab 



